FOX 8 political analyst: Congress will have tough time passing gun bills

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Lawmakers are considering two gun bills in Congress, with Democrats pushing one of them and Republicans backing the other. FOX 8 spoke with a legal analyst to learn why neither bill will have an easy time passing.

Proponents call it common sense - a bill to expand background checks for firearms sales and transfers. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats announced the legislation earlier the this week. But those against the bill say it does nothing to prevent gun violence while threatening citizens' constitutional rights. They say lawmakers should address the root cause of violent crime instead.

The legislation comes as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been pushing to expand background checks. But Republicans have halted their efforts.

This time likely won't be any different.

“As part of the Trump base, we have a staunch advocate for the Second Amendment - the more conservative element within the NRA. So, I don’t expect much legislation to get through that doesn’t have the backing out of President Trump’s base,” explained FOX 8 political analyst Mike Sherman.

Sherman said Democrats will probably to try to push things through even if they don’t lead to new laws.

“What I think we’re going to see in this Congress is the House of Representatives passing a series of bills that has no chance in the Senate. But it’s the House Democrats' chance to show the American people what policies they stand for,” Sherman said.

Another piece of gun legislation would expand concealed carry laws. Right now, there are certain states that don't reciprocate with Louisiana when it comes to carrying a concealed weapon.

"I can get a license in California and I can drive anywhere in the United States of America. All I have to do is follow the laws of the state I'm driving in. But I get a concealed carry permit, which is harder to get than a driver's license, and I can't carry in every state," said Westwego Assistant Police Chief Jason DiMarco.

This bill would change that.

"If I have a permit here, it would allow me to carry in every state across the country. I would have reciprocity with every state," DiMarco said.

Both Senators Cassidy and Kennedy sponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. Yet, right now, the fate of both bills is unknown, thanks to a divided government in the House and Senate.

“Compromise is the key to getting legislation signed into law. With the government shutdown, we haven’t seen a good example of compromise just yet. The Democrats in the House and the Republicans in the Senate, with the White House, will need to find ways to compromise if they don’t want total stagnation,” said Sherman.